And charles a



(No Model.)

J. B. SLINN 8c 0. A. HOLLAND.

DICE BOX.

No. 464,916. Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. SLINN, OF SANFRANOISOO, CALIFORNIA, AND CHARLES A. HOLLAND, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

BOX.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,915, dated December 8, 1891 Application filed July 16, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES B. SLINN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, and CHARLES A. HOLLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, county of New York, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Alphabet-Block and Dice Boxes; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to the general class of shaking boxes or receptacles; and it consists of a casing havinga drop platform exposed behind a sight-aperture and a swinging throw-bar operating under and back of the drop-platform.

It also consists in the means for operating these parts and in the novel construction and arrangement of the device hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of our invention is to provide a device for the mechanical intermingling and exhibition of independent pieces-such, for example, as alphabet-blocks, dice, or other piecesfrom the chance positions and exposure of which instruction, amusement, or values may be derived.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of our invention, Figure l is a perspective View of our box, a portion of the casing end being broken away to show the interior. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the casing, showing the interior parts in end elevation, the dotted lines showing the parts in changed positions.

A is a casing of suitable material, ornamen tation, and dimensions. It is provided with a glazed sight-aperture a in its front. Within the front central portion of the casing is a drop-platform B, hinged by a pintle I) along its front edge to the front of the casing, its back edge being thereby adapted to drop down. A spring I) returns and holds the platform up to a horizontal position against an encircling guard-flange O, fixed to the easing and forming side walls for the platform. \Vithin the casing under the platform is the throw-bar 1), extending from end to end of Serial No. 399,770. (No model.)

the casing and lying in a plane radial to the bottom and back of said casing, which .are

curved as shown. This bar is suspended by end arms d, which are pivoted above on a shaft E mounted in the casing ends. The throw-bar may thus have a swinging movement from a position in the bottom of the casing under the drop-platform to a position in the top back of said casing behind and above the platform. The hinge-pintle b of the drop-platform has a thumb-crank b outside the casing, by the pressing down of which the platform is tilted.

F is a push-rod, the upper end of which extends above the casing-top, and after passing through said top extends downwardly and is connected at its lower end with the upper end of one of the arms d of the throw-bar in such a manner that by pushing said rod down the against the radially-disposed throw-bar and lie in the path of its movement. Then the push-rod F is depressed. This swings the throw-bar backwardly and upwardly, and said bar carries the blocks before and upon it up the back of the casing to a plane higher than and back of the platform, where, reaching its limit of movement, it is arrested somewhat suddenly, whereby the blocks are projected forwardly upon the platform B, resting safely thereon because of the encircling guard-flange 0. Both in their dropping movement and in their forward projection the blocks are thoroughly intermingled and turned, thus leaving to pure chance the exposure of particular faces upon the platform.

Interest is lent to the observation of the mechanical operation of the device and the movements of the blocks by reason of their sudden disappearance in the first instance, their concealment in the bottom of the casing, and their somewhat startling and rapid reappearance upon the platform. This interest is increased by the satisfaction arising from the knowledge of the absolute fairness of the operation, which is a good point in all games of chance in which moves or success are dependent upon the values of the exposed faces of diceas, for example, in such games as backgammon, and the several late modifications thereof, such as parchesi; but not the least important feature of interest is the pleasure and even instruction which children can derive from its use as a toyin which the alphabet-blocks are employed. As there are only thirty-six letters and numerals, it will require but six blocks to represent them. A

slate may be used either separately or as a .front or side attachment to the box, and the child may operate the device to throw the blocks any number of times, deriving-amusement and instruction from observing and recording the different exposed characters upon the slate and spelling words and making numbers by proper combinations.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a casing having a sight-aperture, a drop-platform within the casing behind said aperture to receive, expose, and drop the blocks, and an elevating device within the casing to carry the blocks back again to the platform, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination of a casing having a sight-aperture, a drop-platform therein to receive, expose, and drop the blocks, and a swinging throw-bar in the casing to elevate and throw the blocks back again upon the platform, substantially as herein described.

3. The combination of the casing having a curved back and a sight-apertu re, the dropplatform hinged at its forward edge to the casing behind the sight-aperture and adapted to receive, expose, and drop the blocks, and the swinging radially disposed throw -bar operating under the platform and adapted ceive the blocks from the platform and to carry them back to and upon it, substantially as herein described.

6. The combination of the casing having the sight-aperture the drop-platform to receive, expose, and drop the blocks, the swinging throw-bar having the pivoted end arms to receive the blocks from the platform and to carry them back again to and upon it, and the push-rod to operate the throw-bar, substantially as herein described.

'7. The combination of the casing having the sight-aperture, the spring-controlled dropplatform, the exterior thumb-crank to operate the platform, the throw-bar having the pivoted end arms, and the push-rod to operate the throw-bar, substantially as herein described.

8. The combination of the casing having the sight-aperture, the hinged spring-controlled drop-platform therein, and exterior thumb-crank for operating it,the guard-flange secured to and within the casing and against which the drop-platform normally bears, the throw-bar within the casing under the platform and having pivoted end arms, and the push-rod to operate the throw-bar, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

JAMES B. SLINN. CHARLES A. HOLLAND. WVitnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, J. A. BAYLESS. 

